Warm sips
There’s no better feeling than enjoying a hot cup of your favourite beverage. Get a jolt of caffeine at one of these incredible downtown coffee shops.
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Cozy Adventures
Looking to slow down and soak up the charm of the city? From quiet cafes to scenic strolls and hidden gems, downtown Calgary offers many cozy adventures.
Get comfortable with some
Warm Sips
Places to drink
Eat & Drink
Aggudo Coffee Roasters
A specialty roaster & café focused on Ethiopian coffee; they roast in small batches to preserve the unique flavour profiles
Worth the Hype
Try their single-origin Ethiopian pour-over — a rich, aromatic cup that highlights the roastery’s roots and small-batch craft.
Eat & Drink
Caffe Beano
Long-running hangout providing specialty drinks along with homemade pastries & light fare. Great coffee and conversations since 1990.
Eat & Drink
Chefs Earth
Chefs Earth delivers wholesome, flavour-forward meals crafted with care, authenticity, and a commitment to accessibility.
Eat & Drink
Deville Coffee
Serving communities since 2008, Deville is a locally owned café group known for handcrafted espresso drinks, direct trade coffee, and fresh baked goods.
Eat & Drink
Heliopolis Social Cafe
A relaxed and welcoming space in Calgary offering handcrafted cocktails, specialty coffee and flavourful small plates, with puzzles, chess and colouring to enjoy.
Eat & Drink
Gravity Coffee
Gravity operates cafés, a roastery and a live music venue, blending exceptional coffee with a strong commitment to community and support for emerging artists.
Discover cozy spots and captivating reads
Book lovers
There’s something magical about bookstores where cozy corners invite you to dream and every shelf holds a hidden gem. Explore these downtown favourites.
Book lovers
Find your next great read
Shopping
Nekoto Books
A curated shopping experience focused on Japanese manga, art books and collectibles for anime and pop culture fans.
Shopping
Shelf Life Books
An independent, locally owned bookstore specializing in high quality literature, are dog friendly and open 7 days a week.
Shopping
Fair’s Fair Books
Hidden in the basement of building 1336, this used bookstore overflows with treasured myths and wondrous tales stacked high. A place where you can buy, sell or trade books.
Shopping
Sigla Books
Hard-to-find titles are often lined up on the same shelf, making for a browsing experience that online shopping can still not duplicate.
Shopping
The Next Page
A cozy, community-focused experience, where browsing shelves of curated new and used books pairs perfectly with a locally brewed coffee.
Head to a festival for
FILM BUFFS
Celebrate storytelling on the big screen with downtown’s diverse film festivals, where local and international works of art come alive through community, creativity and culture.
FILM BUFFS
Celebrate storytelling
Events & Festivals
CUFF.Docs Documentary Film Festival
November 19-23, 2025. The event screens 15+ full-length features, as well as shorts, varying in subject, style and genres within the art form.
Events & Festivals
GIRAF Animation Festival
In-person – Nov.13-16, 2025 & Online Nov. 17-23, 2025. A celebration of independent animation, a showcase of the best of what's being created here in Canada and around the world.
Events & Festivals
Calgary European Film Festival
Oct. 31 – Nov. 9, 2025. Come together for a vibrant selection of contemporary films from across Europe at Globe Cinema.
Events & Festivals
Calgary Justice Film Festival
Nov. 6-8, 2025. A mix of social justice and environmental films. The best part is that CJFF is free to attend.
Read your heart out at these
Downtown libraries
Discover peaceful corners and endless shelves in downtown YYC libraries. It’s your space to read, reflect, and reconnect.
Libraries
Places to read
Attractions
Calgary Central Library
Known for its stunning architecture, this library offers more than just books. It's an iconic space that often hosts local events, live performances, and workshops.
Attractions
Memorial Park Library
Memorial Park Library was Alberta’s first public library and on opening day it housed 5,000 books. In 2018 the Library and surrounding park were designated a National Historic Site.
Enjoy a show at one of these
Movies and art theatres
In the mood for an indie gem or the latest blockbuster hit? Head to these downtown Calgary theatres for a cozy movie night in the heart of the city.
Movies and art theatres
For all you film buffs
Arts & Culture
Vertigo Theatre
Enjoy mystery and thriller productions at a theatre located in the Calgary Tower complex.
Arts & Culture
Globe Cinema
Movie lovers will adore the Globe Cinema’s vintage charm. This beloved theatre screens classic films, as well as indie flicks and features during the annual Calgary International Film Festival.
Arts & Culture
Lunchbox Theatre
Enjoy one-act plays and entertaining productions at Lunchbox Theatre.
Arts & Culture
The Palace Theatre
If you want to catch big bands, whether local or international, then you’ll definitely see them here at The Palace Theater.
Getting Around
Whether you hit up one spot or all of them, every visit makes a difference. Let’s keep supporting our community and enjoying everything downtown Calgary has to offer!
Check out some resources to help make visiting downtown convenient.
Check out other experiences
From chill hangouts to adrenaline-pumping activities, there’s something for every vibe in Downtown Calgary. Let your next great experience find you.